Thomas + James unveil ‘Real-Time EP

Glasgow-based duo Thomas + James continue to develop their groove-driven sound with a new release on Federsen’s Alt/Dub imprint. Drawing influence from techno pioneers such as Luke Slater, Slam and Jeff Mills, alongside the atmospheric textures of ’90s drum & bass and deep house figures like St Germain and Laurent Garnier, the pair blur the lines between dub techno, deep house and minimal.

Raised in Glasgow’s west end, their productions reflect the city’s rich club culture while exploring spacious, dub-infused arrangements and subtle progression. Their latest EP on Alt/Dub offers a snapshot of this evolving sound, pairing hypnotic grooves with immersive textures that place Thomas + James among the emerging voices of Glasgow’s next generation. We caught up with them ahead of the release to learn more...

You both grew up in Glasgow’s west end, how has the city shaped your sound and identity as a duo?

Growing up in the west end of Glasgow has been a real gift to us. The city’s depth of musical culture and history, shaped by institutions like Sub Club and The Arches, had a huge influence on us from an early age. Hearing stories about Glasgow’s nightlife growing up only added to that sense of anticipation. So when our time came to start going out at 17, we made sure to attend as many club nights as possible, fake IDs in hand.

Being in rooms like Sub Club on a Saturday night gave us a real understanding of the sound and energy that defined the city, and that’s where our interest really accelerated. We’d always turn up early to experience the warm-up sets, becoming fascinated by the flow of a night and the way DJs such as Harri, Domenic, Kairogen and McCart could patiently build a room before the headliner took over.

That approach to pacing and atmosphere had a lasting impact on us. It pushed us to refine our own sound around slow, considered build-ups, which ultimately led us toward dub techno — a style that allows space, tension and progression to develop naturally over the course of a night.

Your influences stretch from techno pioneers like Luke Slater, Slam and Jeff Mills to house figures such as St Germain and Laurent Garnier. How do those worlds collide in your productions today?

Many of these artists were passed down to us through our dad, who has always had a deep love for techno and house. A lot of that influence came from getting our hands on his CD collection, which became an early point of discovery for us.

From our techno influences, we’ve taken the minimal, repetitive foundations of the genre and carried them into the dub techno and house we produce today. That same mindset extends to our DJing, particularly in the stripped-back minimal tech-house selections we’re drawn to behind the decks.

Artists like St Germain opened the door for us to deeper French and Detroit house, as well as more jazz-influenced, downtempo sounds. It’s music we both love to play in more intimate settings, like bars, but it’s also what we return to in our own time — something we listen to unwind and reset away from the club environment.

You were both born in 2006, yet there’s a strong ’90s undercurrent to your music, particularly dub techno and atmospheric drum & bass. What draws you to that era?

We’re particularly drawn to influences from the 1990s, especially the simplicity that defined so much of the music from that era. Working with limited hardware and predominantly analogue gear gave many tracks a raw, textured quality — something that’s still deeply present in dub techno, both old and new.

Growing up listening to ’90s atmospheric drum & bass from artists like LTJ Bukem, Wax Doctor and The Future Engineers shaped our love for dreamy, deep and immersive soundscapes. When we later discovered dub techno, we immediately noticed the parallels — the emphasis on atmosphere, space and subtle progression — which naturally drew us toward the genre and continues to influence how we approach our own productions.

‘Real-Time’ sets the tone for the EP with a stripped but weighty groove. What was the core idea behind that track?

Real-Time was essentially the starting point for this EP, setting the tone for the tracks to come where we wanted to keep things as simple as possible and really strip the production process back.

When writing Real-Time, we wanted an easy core groove that eases people into the night. Accompanying this groove with infectious swelling pads and bubbling chords complemented the starting idea well, creating a track destined to bring focus on the dancefloor as the club night progresses into the late hours.

Having Federsen remix the title track feels significant. What did he bring to it that surprised or impressed you most?

For Federsen to add his own spin on Real-Time feels incredible, and the vibe he brings to this EP rounds it off completely. We are limited to the production equipment available to us and find ourselves constantly chasing a more analogue sound.

We are truly impressed by his creative process when it comes to creating tracks with zero digital input. He managed to keep the track sounding fresh while still carrying that timeless dub-inspired sound, which was really inspiring to us.

‘Armonia’ leans into a more ethereal, dub-house space. Was that track born from the club, or from a more introspective studio mindset?

Armonia was originally a completely different track from what it ended up being. Made before Real-Time, the track leaned towards an even slower progression, with very little drums and a bigger atmosphere, with the idea of it being an opening track as a club first opened.

After being inspired by the direction we took Real-Time in, we paid Armonia another visit, deciding it could do with more space and a more refined groove, turning it into the version on the EP. During the writing of this version, we felt its slow progression was reminiscent of early club hours and even a bar setting.

‘X-Intense’ closes the EP on a hypnotic note. How important is groove and subtle progression in your writing process?

For us, groove and subtle progression work hand in hand. Having a solid groove in tracks of this style is very important and allows the listener to put trust in the track’s core elements.

This reduces the need for the track to progress in traditional ways or feel rushed. The groove allows things to flow and lets the listener feel at ease with the track.

This EP marks your debut on Alt Dub and positions you as part of Glasgow’s next wave. What do you want listeners to take away from this release, and what’s next for Thomas + James?

With Real-Time being our debut EP on Alt/Dub, our goal goes beyond just releasing music. We wanted to contribute to a shift in how nights are approached in Glasgow.

There’s a real tendency to push things too hard, too early, and we wanted to highlight the importance of a proper warm-up set. For us it’s about patience, progression and letting a night breathe — allowing tension and atmosphere to build naturally rather than peaking straight away.

We hope the EP encourages DJs, promoters and dancers alike to value that slower, more considered journey and understand how powerful it can be when a night unfolds at the right pace.

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